“NIGHTLINE” GROWS WEEK-TO-WEEK AND YEAR-TO-YEAR IN TOTAL VIEWERS AND ADULTS 25-54 

“NIGHTLINE” IS #1 SEASON TO DATE AMONG TOTAL VIEWERS AND ADULTS 25-54

For the week of September 5, 2011, ABC’s “Nightline” once again saw week-to-week increases in overall viewers (+4%) and in the key adult news demo (+1%).   In addition, “Nightline” was up in Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 over the year-ago week (3.364 million and 1.318 million respectively, on w/o 9/6/10) , growing its overall audience year-to-year in 11 of the last 12 weeks.  It placed second across all key target demos: Total Viewers (3.547 million), Adults 25-54 (1.320 million) and Adults 18-49 (1.003 million), according to Nielsen Media Research. 

“Nightline” outperformed CBS’ “The Late Show with David Letterman” by double-digits in Total Viewers (+34%), Adults 25-54 (+24%) and Adults 18-49 (+20%).    

Season to date “Nightline” ranks first in late night among Total Viewers and Adults 25-54.  This is the first time ever that “Nightline” has been in first place at this point in the season in Adults 25-54 since at least the 1993-94 season, when “Letterman” began on CBS.  In addition, “Nightline” is up by +6% in Total Viewers and by +4% in Adults 25-54 compared to the same point last year, standing as the only program to grow year to year in Adults 25-54 versus NBC’s “The Tonight Show” and CBS’ “The Late Show.”   Season to date “Nightline” is drawing its largest overall audience in 8 years – since the 2002-03 season.   

*Note: Due to the Labor Day holiday (9/5/11), ABC’s, CBS’ and NBC’s Monday telecasts were coded as specials and excluded from the weekly average. 

ABC News’ “Nightline” is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Bill Weir. John Donvan and Juju Chang are correspondents. Jeanmarie Condon is the Executive Producer. The program airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network.

(Week of September 05, 2011)

                    TOTAL VIEWERS   A25-54(000)/ Rtg   A18-49(000)/ Rtg  

ABC ”Nightline”       3,547,000     1,320,000/ 1.1    1,003,000/ 0.8

CBS “Late Show”       2,653,000     1,068,000/ 0.9      836,000/ 0.7

NBC “Tonight Show”    3,734,000     1,588,000/ 1.3    1,282,000/ 1.0

Source: The Nielsen Company, NTI Total Viewers and Adults 25-54 Live + SD weeks of 09/5/11, 8/29/11 & 9/6/10.  2010-2011 Broadcast Season (9/20/10 – 9/11/11) and 2009-2010 Broadcast Season (9/21/09 – 9/12/10).